Why BJP Did Not Seek TDP Support In Jubilee Hills?

Telangana BJP continues to overestimate its strength. The 2023 election looked like its best chance, but the party still finished a distant third. In the past two years, its presence has weakened even more across the state’s political space.

The BJP is barely visible in the current campaign while BRS and Congress are running strong. Even with alliances in Andhra Pradesh alongside TDP and Janasena, the party chose not to seek TDP’s support in Jubilee Hills.

Instead, Telangana BJP President N. Ramachandra Rao and Union Minister Kishan Reddy met Telangana Janasena President Shankar Goud and his team on Tuesday. They confirmed that Janasena will back BJP’s candidate Lankala Deepak Reddy in the by-election.

Janasena leaders also announced plans to campaign for the BJP with just six days left before voting. Meanwhile, TDP decided to remain neutral after Chandrababu Naidu directed its leaders not to get involved in this contest.

Without a clear stand from the party, several TDP supporters have leaned towards Congress, mainly because of Revanth Reddy’s appeal. However, BJP has avoided asking TDP for support despite knowing Naidu would have likely agreed.

The reason is simple BJP assumes that Telangana voters still view TDP as an “Andhra Party.” But this overconfidence is turning into a weakness. The party is not even in a position to worry about losing votes over such perceptions.

By ignoring TDP’s base, BJP risks alienating voters who could have made a difference. Many of them are now shifting towards Congress, strengthening its position against the BJP in Jubilee Hills.

The by-election result on November 14 will likely see BJP in third place again. Yet, state leaders continue to project confidence, taking credit through association with the Narendra Modi government in Delhi.

Since Telangana’s formation, Jubilee Hills has seen three elections. In 2014, TDP and BJP won together in alliance. But in 2018 and 2023, BJP lost both times, with Lankala Deepak Reddy a former TDP leader finishing third in the last contest.